Getting from Syros to Lefkada

If you are heading to Lefkada from Syros you are making your way from the capital of the Cyclades to an island in the Ionian Sea connected to the mainland by a causeway, on the opposite side of Greece. It has some of the finest beaches in Europe on its west coast with sheer white limestone cliffs dropping to turquoise water.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Syros to Lefkada. No Cycladic island is connected by sea to any Ionian island. Lefkada has no main ferry port as it is linked to the mainland by a floating bridge. Getting there means taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus, which runs up to 6 daily crossings in summer and takes around 2 hours on the fast boat, and then driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada via Patras and Preveza, which takes around 5 hours from Athens.

Getting there by air

Lefkada has no airport. The nearest airport is Preveza, around 22 kilometres from Lefkada Town. Syros has a small domestic airport with limited connections from Athens. Taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada gives a total journey time of around 8 to 9 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and drive or take the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada via Patras and Preveza. Having a car makes this route considerably more practical and gives you the freedom to explore Lefkada's spectacular west coast beaches. If you are traveling with a car the conventional ferry from Syros takes your vehicle directly to Piraeus for the drive northwest to Lefkada.